Colours of Music Orchestra in Hull

The Colours of Music Orchestra - a collaborative ensemble of young people from special schools in Hull - will be working this Summer Term to present the Indonesian folk-tale of Too-Too-Moo and the Giant. The production will involve theatre, shadow puppetry, percussion and traditional Javanese gamelan ensembles. Young people from four Hull special schools (Fredrick Holmes, Ganton, Tweendykes and Northcott) will work with composer and gamelan expert Emily Crossland, percussionist and performer Gary Hammond, and designer and puppeteer Liz Dees to achieve a fully collaborative, original interpretation of this traditional tale. Young people will also have the opportunity to explore musical composition as they develop their own sountrack for the story.

The Colours of Music Orchestra project is co-ordinated by Spin Off Productions, working in partnership with Hull City Council and Music4U. Spin Off's Artistic Director, Honor Pallant, has been developing the innovative Colours of Music collaboration since 2010 and it was in January 2011 that the first Hull Special Needs Orchestra made its debut at Hull Truck Theatre. The continuation of the project has been supported by Music4U, Hull City Council and the Albemarle Music Centre.

The Colours of Music Orchestra will perform their adaptation of Too-Too-Moo and the Giant at the Albemarle Music Centre on Friday 12th July. Spin Off's Honor Pallant told Music4U that she believes "concerts such as this could enhance the educational reputation of the city of Hull and also show our teachers to be innovators in a very special area of the performing and creative arts. Hull has the opportunity to be a key player, nationally, in the further development of music and its associated benefits in special education schools. Special schools, by virtue of what they are, are always in danger of being marginalised and this project engages with a wealth of untapped talent within these establishments. Music is a level playing field and these amazing students are getting a wealth of joy and personal fulfilment from this project. This is a golden opportunity for high quality practical music-making".